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Water pressure has been fully restored and usage restrictions lifted for communities hit by a major water main break in Auburn Hills, Michigan — but a boil water advisory remains in place for thousands of residents as testing continues.

The Great Lakes Water Authority announced Wednesday morning that the damaged 42-inch transmission main was back in service at 10:30 a.m., allowing water to flow again to Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, the Village of Lake Orion, and Orion Township.

However, officials are still requiring residents in parts of Orion Township, Lake Orion, northern Auburn Hills, and northwest Rochester Hills to boil their water until comprehensive quality testing is completed over the coming days.

Ongoing Relief Efforts

Water distribution sites remain open with multiple trucks delivering free drinking water daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in key locations across the affected areas.

The break occurred around 1:30 a.m. on May 10 in River Woods Park. Crews had been monitoring the line since a leak was detected on May 6. The failed section of pipe — which was only about 50 years old — was removed early Monday and replaced Tuesday, well short of its expected 100-year lifespan.

This major infrastructure failure highlights the growing vulnerability of America’s aging water systems. A critical 42-inch main failing decades ahead of schedule disrupted daily life for thousands and forced emergency water distribution in one of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas.

While the rapid repair is a credit to crews working around the clock, the fact that such a significant artery failed so prematurely raises serious questions about the condition of other aging pipes across the region and the country.

For residents still under the boil water advisory, the inconvenience continues even as pressure returns. The incident serves as a sobering reminder that America’s water infrastructure — much of it built generations ago — is reaching a critical point where failures like this could become more frequent if major investments aren’t made soon.